Photographer Rant - Met with Photographer...please read
I met with my photographer last night regarding my pictures.
In a nut shell, the following points were stressed while my feelings were explained:
1) It was a day wedding - they are always rushed
2) It was windy - it was hard to capture shots outside
3) It was noon-ish - that's the worst time to take shots outside.
4)Everything was rushed b/c we were on a tight timeline - there wasn't enough time to do more.
Overall I was pleased that every important moment was captured from the day - but I know his work - and I know what he & this studio puts out there...and even though we were on a tight timeline, I feel he did not 'go the extra mile' and even with the time he had - some shots could have been so much better.
My claims:
1) The best man speech - there's a shot of every close-up individually - but no panning shot like , the groom,thebride looking at the best man.
Photographer response: The Best man was standing too far away from you, it wouldn't have been a good shot.
2) There is a shot of me & DH that is so closeup - but would have been the perfect thank you - I ask, why not take it a few zooms back too?
Photographer response: Maybe your dress wasn't set up right. (note: DOC took the same pic - dress was perfect).
3) Why do I only have 588 proofs when you say you shot over 1200?
PR: A lot of them were out of focus, blinks, weird expressions, not good.
4) I am familiar with you work - you do a lot more with your brides, different poses, etc...how come these shots are missing?
PR: Not every wedding is the same.
(the shots I loved that he usually did weren't even mentioned).
At the house, you were getting ready and we had to leave - there was not enough time (true - I should have been done first - I don't know who told me to get done last - but that is the single peice of advice I wish I would not have taken).
5) I stressed to you that when DH sees me for the first time I want it to be private. In all the pics of me approaching DH, we have a) the videographer in the shot and b) all the bridal party in the shot (some smiling, some not smiling, weird expressions).
PR: supposedly I didn't tell him this, but it was done some instantly, this is how the moment just came about or someting like that. The videographer will be cropped out
6) DH & I walking away from the camera - a blurred-edge,sharp-center lense was used - not always taking the shot intended- most shots being blurry- would have loved a crisp shot that could later be photoshopped for the SAME effect!!!
PR: This can't exactly be done on PS. This is the intended look for this picture
6a) Well...then why couldn't you take it with and without that lense ?
PR: there was not enough time.
7) How come there are no creative angled shots - everything was taken as a straight photo - no camera tilting to obtain a pic that maybe captured more of the background, (more of an angled canvas - I love those shots!)
PR: There was not enough timel
8) This shot - with my veil flowing and DH holding me - would have been such a beautiful shot - my DOC GOT the shot - all I have here are weird expressions and extremely zoomed in shots - this shot would have been great zoomed OUT a little more!
PR: I cannot always obtain the best shot. If someone else got the shot - you're more than happy to use their picture.
(I didn't like that response - what am I paying $6,000 for ??? so you can get the 2nd best shot?)
9) My mother the day of to photographer - Why are you taking all the photos in front of that fireplace - why don't you take some pics in front of that mirror or that piano or that staircase!
(Pointed out to me, never responded, felt he was doing his job - trusted his reputation and previous jobs).
It's true though!
Another PR: I'll admit, this wasn't the best job, with all factors considered, a lot more shots could have been there, but we didn't have time! I can take negative criticism, that's fine.
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My overall feeling: I like my pictures, I do not love them. For someone who loves photography - and did endless hours of research - my proofs were a let down. I know the work this studio puts out - I know the work my photographer does!!!
He told me not to compare my photos with anyone elses because that's just doing myself a dis-service.
All my shots are out of a photography textbook - traditional traditional traditional.
Some shots very few capture the style of the photographer I chose.
This just goes to show you that no matter how hard you work to research, nothing is for sure.
I personally feel that a lot of the pictures, as we were taking them were beautiful - my veil caught the wind so much - and while taking them I was so excited that they were going to be phenomenal.
Again, shots there were way too many close-up shots that would have told more of a story if they would have been zoomed out.
I'm going to move foward. However, I feel deep regret for not booking my 2nd or 3rd choice photographers. I also feel now that we should have booked an evening wedding - unfortunately at a different place - b/c we didn't have the #'s for a night wedding at WM - and then have had an afternoon photoshoot...
I'm sorry the response 'it's a day wedding, we were rushed' does not sit well with me.
Everyone was there looking spiffy - makeup beautiful, having fun, I paid a lot of money to utilize Old Westbury Gardens. I really feel like he was almost, well, LAZY that day!
Just get the bare min and move on.
In a nut shell, the following points were stressed while my feelings were explained:
1) It was a day wedding - they are always rushed
2) It was windy - it was hard to capture shots outside
3) It was noon-ish - that's the worst time to take shots outside.
4)Everything was rushed b/c we were on a tight timeline - there wasn't enough time to do more.
Overall I was pleased that every important moment was captured from the day - but I know his work - and I know what he & this studio puts out there...and even though we were on a tight timeline, I feel he did not 'go the extra mile' and even with the time he had - some shots could have been so much better.
My claims:
1) The best man speech - there's a shot of every close-up individually - but no panning shot like , the groom,thebride looking at the best man.
Photographer response: The Best man was standing too far away from you, it wouldn't have been a good shot.
2) There is a shot of me & DH that is so closeup - but would have been the perfect thank you - I ask, why not take it a few zooms back too?
Photographer response: Maybe your dress wasn't set up right. (note: DOC took the same pic - dress was perfect).
3) Why do I only have 588 proofs when you say you shot over 1200?
PR: A lot of them were out of focus, blinks, weird expressions, not good.
4) I am familiar with you work - you do a lot more with your brides, different poses, etc...how come these shots are missing?
PR: Not every wedding is the same.
(the shots I loved that he usually did weren't even mentioned).
At the house, you were getting ready and we had to leave - there was not enough time (true - I should have been done first - I don't know who told me to get done last - but that is the single peice of advice I wish I would not have taken).
5) I stressed to you that when DH sees me for the first time I want it to be private. In all the pics of me approaching DH, we have a) the videographer in the shot and b) all the bridal party in the shot (some smiling, some not smiling, weird expressions).
PR: supposedly I didn't tell him this, but it was done some instantly, this is how the moment just came about or someting like that. The videographer will be cropped out
6) DH & I walking away from the camera - a blurred-edge,sharp-center lense was used - not always taking the shot intended- most shots being blurry- would have loved a crisp shot that could later be photoshopped for the SAME effect!!!
PR: This can't exactly be done on PS. This is the intended look for this picture
6a) Well...then why couldn't you take it with and without that lense ?
PR: there was not enough time.
7) How come there are no creative angled shots - everything was taken as a straight photo - no camera tilting to obtain a pic that maybe captured more of the background, (more of an angled canvas - I love those shots!)
PR: There was not enough timel
8) This shot - with my veil flowing and DH holding me - would have been such a beautiful shot - my DOC GOT the shot - all I have here are weird expressions and extremely zoomed in shots - this shot would have been great zoomed OUT a little more!
PR: I cannot always obtain the best shot. If someone else got the shot - you're more than happy to use their picture.
(I didn't like that response - what am I paying $6,000 for ??? so you can get the 2nd best shot?)
9) My mother the day of to photographer - Why are you taking all the photos in front of that fireplace - why don't you take some pics in front of that mirror or that piano or that staircase!
(Pointed out to me, never responded, felt he was doing his job - trusted his reputation and previous jobs).
It's true though!
Another PR: I'll admit, this wasn't the best job, with all factors considered, a lot more shots could have been there, but we didn't have time! I can take negative criticism, that's fine.
--------------------------------------------------
My overall feeling: I like my pictures, I do not love them. For someone who loves photography - and did endless hours of research - my proofs were a let down. I know the work this studio puts out - I know the work my photographer does!!!
He told me not to compare my photos with anyone elses because that's just doing myself a dis-service.
All my shots are out of a photography textbook - traditional traditional traditional.
Some shots very few capture the style of the photographer I chose.
This just goes to show you that no matter how hard you work to research, nothing is for sure.
I personally feel that a lot of the pictures, as we were taking them were beautiful - my veil caught the wind so much - and while taking them I was so excited that they were going to be phenomenal.
Again, shots there were way too many close-up shots that would have told more of a story if they would have been zoomed out.
I'm going to move foward. However, I feel deep regret for not booking my 2nd or 3rd choice photographers. I also feel now that we should have booked an evening wedding - unfortunately at a different place - b/c we didn't have the #'s for a night wedding at WM - and then have had an afternoon photoshoot...
I'm sorry the response 'it's a day wedding, we were rushed' does not sit well with me.
Everyone was there looking spiffy - makeup beautiful, having fun, I paid a lot of money to utilize Old Westbury Gardens. I really feel like he was almost, well, LAZY that day!
Just get the bare min and move on.
